Clare Hurling Manager, Ger Loughnane will be working with a new team of selectors next year. Tony Considine, Michael McNamara and Sean Stack have stepped down and are replaced by Louis Mulqueen of All-Ireland club champions St Josephs Doora-Barefield and former player Cyril Lyons. McNamara and Considine have been with Ger Loughnane since he took over the Clare Senior Hurlers in the autumn of 1994 while Sean Stack joined up with the team only last year.
Meanwhile, Clare goalkeeper David Fitzgerald has expressed his disappointment at his omission from this year's Hurling All-Stars announced yesterday. The star custodian has stated that he felt he could not have had a better year, a year in which he made some wonderful stops and also scored a last minute penalty in the Munster semi-final against Tipperary to earn the Bannermen a draw. Much of the controversy has centred on the fact that Fitzgerald received a two-month ban after his involvement in a post-match brawl at this year's Munster Under-21 final. However, the All-Stars selection steering committee had released a statement on Wednesday saying the Clareman was deemed eligible for selection. Fitzgerald received an All-Star in 1995 when Clare won the All-Ireland. Cork's young 'Keeper Donal Óg Cusack got the award this year.
Later tonight the Eircell All-Star Football team will be announced at a banquet in the Burlington Hotel, an event transmitted live on Network 2 at 8.05pm.
In other news, UCD have denied suggestions that Tipperary hurling manager, Nicky English, is about to succeed the late DR Tony O'Neill as Director of Sports.
